Like North Hoyle 1, Gwynthy-Mor will lie some 8 km off the Port of Mostyn and will also be operated by National Windpower.

The North Hoyle offshore wind farm has been built by the North Hoyle Consortium, consisting of Vestas-Celtic Wind Technology and Mayflower Energy. Specialist sub-contractor Seacore deployed its eight legged jack-up platform Excalibur toinstall the 30, 4m diameter steel monopole foundations in the seabed. A flotilla of supporting workboats from the UK, Belgium, Germany and Denmark included contributions from N.V. De Brandt, Muhibbah Marine, Harms Bergung Tpt & Heavylift, F + Z Baugeselischuft GmbH, Unterweser Reederie GmbH, Esvagt A/S, Holyhead Towing, Global Marine, Felixarc Marine/Adsteam, Briggs Marine, and Port Dredging Ltd.

With such a vast project pending, the Port of Mostyn was able to provide the North Hoyle Consortium with a 300m long riverside berth and an adjacent 10 hectare laydown area which includes a 3,000m 2components storage and assembly building.

Some 140 people have been working on a site which had to accommodate the 55m long foundation piles which weigh 275 tonnes each, 90 tonne transition pieces, 60m long 150 tonne towers, 61 tonne turbine nacelles and 39m long blades weighing in at 7 tonnes each.

The construction contract includes a five year service and maintenance period which will keep wind power activities in the Port of Mostyn going until Gwynth-y-Mor gets underway.

To carry out the maintenance work, which includes remote performance monitoring of the turbines, Vestas-Celtic are establishing a maintenance base at Mostyn which includes workshops and offices.

The eagerly awaited Mayflower Resolution will make its working debut at Mostyn having sailed from China's Shanhaiguan shipyard in December to the UK's River Tees, where Middlesbrough based owners Mayflower Energy threw a launch party for the vessel. The 130.5m loa, 14,547grt, DP-equipped vessel features a conventional bow front and is self-propelled by four azimuthing thrusters but can jack itself some 35m out of the water.

MJ Information No: 19120